Vols. for 1994-1995 distributed to depository libraries in microfiche.

General Note:

Special "80th anniversary supplement" issue published on Aug. 12, 1994.

General Note:

Special ed. for 65th anniversary of the Panama Canal issued at end of Oct. 1979, is also a joint issue with: The News: authorized unofficial publication of the U.S. Armed Forces, Quarry Heights, Panama, and includes the text of the Panama Canal Act.

Following the August 2 an-
nouncement that the U.S. Senate
had confirmed Alberto Alemin
Zubieta as Panama Canal Commis-
sion administrator, Gilberto Guardia
F. indicated he will formally step
down from the post on August 18.
Guardia announced his resignation
last October, stating that he wanted
to ensure continuity in the vital
position through the Panama Canal
transition period and after Panama
assumes stewardship of the Canal
on December 31,1999.
Chairman Joe R. Reeder praised
the achievements and management
of the Canal's first Panamanian ad-
ministrator, saying, "No onehas done
more than Gilberto Guardia over the
last six years to keep the Canal a
world-class organization. Nor has

anyone done more to provide for the
work force and to position the Canal
for continued success. His achieve-
ments are truly of historic propor-
tions. Guardia's place in history and
in our hearts is:secure."
Nominated by U.S. President
George Bush, Guardia was sworn in
as administrator on September 20,
1990, becoming the first Panama-
nian to occupy the Commission's
highestposition. Havingpreviously
worked for the Canal from 1951 to
1952, he maintained a professional
association with the waterway after
moving to the private sector and
plans to again keep his ties with the
Canal alive in the future.
Having obtained a bachelor's
degree in civil engineering in 1950,
Continued on page 3 ...

Award presentation
Panama Canal Commission Ad-
ministrator Gilberto Guardia F.,
right, receives the Distinguished
Service Award, the Commission's
highest honor for long-term ser-
vice,from BoardofDirectors Chair-
man Joe R. Reeder. Guardia was
recognized for exceptional dedi-
cation, professionalism, integrity
and outstanding leadership as
administrator. Specific accom-
plishments referred to in the award
citation included Guardia's efforts
to ensure a smooth transfer of the
Panama Canal to the Republic of
Panama and to maintain quality
service during a period of unprec-
edented levels of vessel traffic.
Photo by Armando De Gracia

Successor ready to take on new responsibilities

Seeing the dedication that em-
ployees have for the Panama Canal
has given Alberto Alemin Zubieta
added confidence as he comes to
his new position as Panama Canal
Commission administrator. "I have
sensed a deep love for this entity by
employees of all nationalities," he
says. "This will makemy jobeasier."
RecommendedbyPanamaPresi-
dent Ernesto P6rez Balladares and
enthusiastically endorsed by the
Commission as the successor to
Gilberto Guardia F., the first Pana-
manian to hold the Canal's highest

Alberto Aleman Zubieta

The nextPanamaCanal Commis-
sion Board of Directors meeting will
be held August 19 in Panama. Man-
agementwill submittherevisedcapi-
tal programs for fiscal years 1997
and 1998to the board for approval,
as well as the proposed settlement
of a vessel-accident claim. As an-
nouncedaftertheJuly 10boardmeet-
ing, management will also submit a
proposal for a tolls adjustment that
would spread any tolls increase over
a two-year period.

post, Alemin Zubieta was nomi-
nated by U.S. President William J.
Clinton on June 3 and confirmed by
theU.S. SenateonAugust2. He will
be sworn into his new post on
August 18.
Although most of the men in his
family were lawyers, AleminZubieta
decided to study engineering after
developing an interest in the work
that his uncle, Rafael Alemin, was
doing, particularly in Panama's inte-
rior provinces. Graduating from
Texas A & M University, Alemain
Zubieta received bachelor's degrees
in industrial and civil engineering in
1973 and 1974,,respectively.
He worked for his uncle's com-
pany, Constructora Urbana S.A.,
between earning his two degrees and
returned there as a project engineer
for highway and bridge construction
work after his studies. He has been
with the firm ever since, moving into
positions of increasing responsibil-
ity over the years. He was promoted
to chief engineer and tasked with
managing all the company's con-
struction projects in 1979, then as-
sumedthetitleofexecutivevicepresi-
dent and additional responsibility for
subsidiary companies in 1984. He

Followingthe meeting, abriefing
will bepresented atMiraflores Locks
on the conclusions of the U.S. Army
CorpsofEngineers' Canalinfrastruc-
ture study and the Blue Ribbon En-
gineering Committee's evaluation
of the study. The blue-ribbon com-
mitteeis composed of distinguished
Panamanian engineers. Panamagov-
ernment officials, Canal customers,
the media, local businessmen and
other opinion leaders will be invited
to attend the briefing.

was named executive president in
1992 and has served in that capacity
since that time.
Founded in 1955, Constructora
Urbana is considered the largest
heavy-construction firm in the Re-
public of Panama in terms of the
volume and scope of its work, the
size of the bonds it can raise and its
equipment. Major projects that
Aleman Zubieta has been involved
with since joining the firm have in-
cluded working with the Morrison
Knudsen Corp. on the construction
ofthetrans-Isthmian oilpipeline and
building the highway connecting
Fortuna and Chiriquf Grande.
Constructora Urbana has also
performed several projects, mostly

involving remedial excavation and
small road construction work, for
the Canal. The firm was contracted
to help with the cleanup following
the 1986 landslide at the waterway,
removing close to one million cubic
meters of material. The company is
once again performing excavations
in the area as one of the contractors
participating in the Gaillard Cut wid-
ening program.
Alemin Zubieta says that leav-
ing Constructora Urbana repre-
sents one of the toughest deci-
sions he has had to make since
being chosen to head the Commis-
sion. "It's a company that I helped
build and have been working for all
my life," heexplains. Nevertheless,

he feels confident he is leaving it in
good hands. Prior to the death of
his uncle in 1992, a concerted effort
was made to professionalize and
build a solid corporate structure in
what had previously been a family
business. Since Alemnn Zubieta's
nomination as administrator, this
effort has intensified to provide
training for new leaders.
In addition to his career with
Constructora Urbana, Alemin
Zubieta has served as Panama's
delegate in the Inter-American Con-
struction Industry Federation, as a
member of the editorial committee
for La Prensa and as a board mem-
ber of both Petroterminales de
Continued on page 3 ...

Commission awards contract for seven towboats;

first to be named in honor of Gilberto Guardia F.

On July 30, the Panama Canal
Commission awarded a four-year
$33,311,777 contract to Halter Ma-
rine Inc. for the construction of
seven tugboats. Awarded under
the Commission's ongoing program
to improve and expand its floating-
equipment fleet, the contract will
help ensure that the Panama Canal
is equipped to meet increased traf-
fic demand.
In addition to increasing the
overall size of the fleet in accor-
dance with projected traffic levels,
the new tugboats will replace four
that willsoon be reaching the end of
their service life. At a cost of about
$6.5 million each, the first three new
tugs should arrive at the Canal within
12 and 15 months. The first tug to
arrive will be named after Gilberto
Guardia F., the first Panamanian
Commission administrator.
Based in Gulfport, Miss., Halter
Marine has previously built tugboats
andotherfloating equipment, includ-

ing the Dredging Division's new
floating crane Oceanus, for theCom-
mission. The company was selected
for this contract through a negoti-
ated bidding process on the basis of
its experience, past performance,
quality-control capabilities andprice.
Ernest Hickman, the General
Services Bureau contracting officer
for special projects, reports that, in
an effort to make the purchase less
expensive for the Commission, pro-
pulsion units are being provided by
the agency through a separate
multiyear contract with Voith-
Schneiderof Germany.
Voith's cycloidal propellers al-
low tugs to thrust in any direction
without changing their heading.
According to Canal Services Divi-
sion Fleet Engineer Norman W.
Watkins, their increased maneuver-
ability makes them exceptionally
well suited to the Canal, especially
for work in Gaillard Cut and around
the locks.

The contract tugboats will be
similar in design to the five newest
tugs at the Canal, which measure 95
feet in length and 34 feet in beam
and have amaximum draftof 17 feet.
The mission of Commission
tugboats is to provide assistance
to vessels in Canal waters. The
service life for well-maintained tugs
generally runs from 25 to 30 years,
after which it becomes more cost-
effective to replace them.
The new tugboats will come
equipped with two main engines,
two generators, firefighting equip-
ment, hydraulic towing winches and
modern comforts such as central
air-conditioning units and micro-
wave ovens.
Watkins, who will oversee the
construction of the tugs in the
United States, says the experience
will be a new challenge for him after
33 years of service at the Canal.
"I'm sure it will be something totally
different," he states.

Briefing on infrastructure study to

follow meeting of Board of Directors

Administrator to step down from post August 18

The Panama Canal Spillway

Friday, August 9, 1996

Administrator honored
DenisArce, left,chairman ofthe Panama
Legislative Assembly's Transportation
and Communications Committee, pre-
sents a plaque to Gilberto Guardia F. in
recognition of his exemplary perfor-
mance as Panama Canal Commission
administrator. At right is Ram6n Cano,
a member of the Chiriqui Journalists
Association. The presentation was made
during a conference sponsored by the
association and the Legislative Assem-
bly at Bambito, Chiriqui, on July 26
through 28 toprepare professional com-
municators for the future challenge as-
sociated with the transfer ofthe Panama
Canal to the Republic of Panama.

Photo by Luis A. Corella

Specialized training

Commission employee relations specialist goes "hog

wild" during appearance on stateside television show

ByRocioGrimaldo

"I love pigs," says Angela Rodriguez-Villafane, an em-
ployee relations specialist with the Panama Canal Commis-
sion Adverse Actions Branch, who recently had the oppor-
tunity to demonstrate her affection for the porcine species on
U.S. television.
While visiting New York City with a friend in May,
Rodriguez-Villafafie got tickets to the Maury Povich show.

Pig lover
In the photo below, Angela Rodriguez-Villafanie, who has
loved pigs since her childhood, poses with her collection of
miniatures, which started
with a gift from her son. In
the photo at right, she uses
one of the pigs from the col-
lection to demonstrate what
she recently did to a live one
on a U.S. television show.

Photos by Joe Zornes

Unusual pets were the special guests for the day, and, when
organizers asked for audience volunteers to kiss a pig,
Rodriguez-Villafaiie raised her hand frantically in the air. Of
the three people picked on the spot, she was the one who was
finally selected.
The recipient of the kiss was to be Hatfield, a black 200-
pound pot-bellied pig whose owner has raised more than
$100,000 for charity by charging people a dollar to kiss him.
Rodriguez-Villafaiie admits to being taken aback when she
saw the humongous animal, but she quickly recovered. "He
was horrible, but so sweet," she explains.
As soon as she cooed "kiss, kiss," Hatfield immediately
gave her a smooch, but the talk show host was totally ignored
when he made the same request. Rodriguez-Villafafie thinks
that Hatfield responded differently to her because he could
sense her genuine affection for him.
"I was meant to do it," Rodriguez-Villafaiie says of the
experience, explaining that she has had a special place in her
heart for pigs ever since she was a little girl living in Havana.
"I had an uncle in the countryside, and, around August, he
would bring my grandmother this little pink baby pig so we
could fatten him up for Christmas," she recalls, explaining
that the traditional yuletide dinner in Cuba included roast
pork, rice, black beans and yucca.
Rodriguez-Villafafie describes how hard it was each year
to have a pet piglet for four months only to later see it dead
on the table with an apple in its mouth. She would never eat
her pigs back then, and, to this day, still does not consume
pork. And the delight that many others experience on seeing
a cute puppy comes to her instead with pigs.
Rodriguez-Villafafie moved to Panama with her family at
the age of 8, curtailing her association with pigs until one day
when her 8-year old son, Julio, approached her and said,
"Mommy, open your hand, because I'm going to give you
something you'll love." Heplaced a tiny pink ceramic pig in
herpalm, and Rodriguez-Villafafie has been collecting minia-
ture pigs ever since. In addition to receiving other pigs as
gifts from family and friends, she began bringing them back
from trips to such countries as the Netherlands, Spain,
Sweden, Italy, Denmark, the Dominican Republic and Puerto
Rico.

Fellowship seminar
Panama Canal Commission security guard Miguel
Gonzdlez, in striped shirt at far right, poses with other
members of the Partners of the Americas program dur-
ing a two-week seminar in Washington, D.C., last
month. Selectedfrom among 200 international candi-
dates for a 2/-year fellowship, Gonzdlez and the other
participants will attend four additional seminars, two
in 1997 in South America and two in 1998- one in the
Caribbean and the other in the United States. Endowed
by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Partners of the
Americas program strives to improve the quality of life
in communities throughout the hemisphere.

Contest winner Photo by Kevin Jenkins
Judith Indira Rios, a temporary office automation clerk
with the Training Center's Language Unit, is all smiles
after winning a trip to attend an international confer-
ence for businesswomen in Venice, Italy, last month.
Rios won the trip through a contest organized by the
National Federation of Business and Professional
Women of the Republic of Panama with her thesis titled
"A Career Woman and the Family Code." Rios is a
finance and banking student at Universidad del Istmo.

Procurement briefing Photo by Jaime Yau
Logistical Support Division contract specialist Edwin Durling discusses Panama Canal
Commission procurement ethics with representatives of Transparency International, an
organization that seeks to improve business practices in Panama. Presentations by other
General Services Bureau employees during the briefing included a procurement overview,
policies for both major and minor procurements and planning for the future.

SA primary objective of
thePanamaCanalCommis-
sion is to ensure uninter-
rupted transit service through
the Panama Canal and the smooth transfer of
the waterway to Panama on December 31,
1999. With this in mind, agency representa-
tives began a series of briefings in mid-March
forthe Panama government's Transition Com-
mission for the Transfer of the Canal.
The most recent presentation was made
July 26 by Marine Bureau officials for the
members of the Transition Commission's
Marine Operations Committee. Marine Bu-
reau Staff Engineer James R. Freeman ex-
plains that the purpose was to familiarize
committee representatives with Marine Bu-

reau operations and officials, including Ma-
rine Director Capt. George T. Hull, Deputy
Director Carlos Alvarado and managers from
each of the bureau's divisions and units.
During his presentation, Alvarado stressed
the key role that the Marine Bureau plays in
helping the Canal Commission achieve both its
core mission, which is to guarantee the safe and
efficient operation of the Canal, and its goal of
supporting the transition process for the
waterway's transfer to Panama. Other Marine
Bureau managers explained the main duties
performed under their areas of responsibility.
According to Freeman, this information will be
expanded further during a series of follow-up
visits that members of the Transition Commis-
sion will make to all Marine Bureau units.

Administrator to step down from post August 18 . .continued from page 1

Guardia was fresh out of California's Univer-
sity of Santa Clara when he first joined the
Canal organization. "It was a great opportu-
nity for me because of the extensive number
of Canal development activities in progress
at the time. Very rarely is a young engineer
exposed to such a wide variety of applica-
tions," he says, noting that, in just one year
at the Canal, he obtained valuable experience
designing roads and streets, water-supply
networks, sanitary-waste systems, storm
sewers and other infrastructure for areas
such as Corozal and Cardenas.
Guardia spent the bulk of his professional
career in private business, serving as presi-
dent and chief executive officer of Diaz y
Guardia S.A., a leading architectural, engi-
neering and construction firm in Panama that
he founded in 1953.
The Banco Exterior Building, Bayano
CementFactory and Baha'i Temple are among
the most impressive structures built by the
company under his leadership, but a number
of Canal area landmarks, including the
Curundu and Howard elementary schools
and the Fort Clayton Chapel, were also con-
structed under contracts with the former
Canal organization and with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. The company was also
responsible for the original remodeling of
Fort Clayton's Building 95.
Guardia has served as a board member for
a number oforganizations, including the World

Presidents' Organization, Panama's National
Private EnterpriseCouncil, the Panama Cham-
ber of Construction, the Panama branch of
Banque Nationale deParis, theLatin American
Institute of Advanced Studies, the Panama
South Rotary Club chapter and Panama's
National Association for the Conservation of
Nature (ANCON), to name a few.
He is a fellow of the American Society of
Civil Engineers and also belongs to the
American Society of Professional Engineers,
the American Concrete Institute and the
Panama Society of Engineers and Architects,
which presented him with the Florencio Icaza
Award in 1992. He is also a former vice
president of the Panama Association of Busi-
ness Executives (APEDE), which named him
"Executive of the Year" for 1992.
As Commission administrator, Guardia
has had overall responsibility for the opera-
tion and maintenance of the Canal and prepa-
rations for its transfer to Panama.
He has worked to ensure continued high-
quality transit service for Canal users, over-
seeing important improvement efforts such as
the widening of the channel entrances, the
installation of modern fire-protection systems
at Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks, the
installation of a new locks fendering system,
the construction of a new Atlantic-side signal
station and the installation of a ship-handling
simulator for training Canal pilots. "Probably
the most important project overall has been

the initiation of work on the Gaillard Cut wid-
ening program, which will escalate Canal ca-
pacity to the maximum," he says.
Speaking about the waterway as a whole,
he says, "This is a large-scale operation with
a number of unique challenges. It would be
hard to find a corporation that embodies as
much as the Canal." Many have stated that
the success of the waterway is due in large
part to its work force, and Guardia's experi-
ence bears this out. "I have found a team of
people who are highly qualified in all aspects
of the operation and the business," he says.
"I am grateful to employees for their support
throughout my time as administrator."
Guardia notes that serving during this
period of transition has been intriguing, in-
cluding the additional responsibilities of
working with Panama to ensure that the Canal
transfer will be virtually imperceptible to cus-
tomers. "I am not saying this won't be
difficult," he says, explaining that wide sup-
port is essential. "I see this as a major
challenge in ensuring continued operational
efficiency," he adds.
According to Guardia, an important part
of the transition process has been increasing
the number of qualified Panamanian employ-
ees as the percentage of U.S. employees
decreases. At the same time, he says, "It was
an important goal for me personally that I not
be perceived as thePanamanian administra-
tor, looking out only forPanama's interests.

Successor ready to take on responsibilities ... continuedfrom page 1

Panama and Panama's National Housing
Council. He has expanded his education
through seminars and special training pro-
grams at the Panama Association of Busi-
ness Executives' Center for Advanced Stud-
ies in Administration, the Central American
Business Institute and the University of
California at Los Angeles.
He has been a member of several profes-
sional and civic organizations, including the
local and international chapters of the Young
Presidents' Organization, the Panama South
Rotary Club, the Panama Association of
Engineers and Architects and the Panama
Contractors Association (CAPAC).
Alemdn Zubieta served CAPAC as both
vice president and president, saying that his
presidency in 1988 coincided with one of
hardest periods that the Panama construc-
tion industry has faced. The political and
economic crisis associated with the regime of
Panama dictator Gen. Manuel A. Noriega was
at its zenith, the volume of construction work
plummeted, no money was available and
special arrangements had to be made just to
keep workers employed.
For his public leadership role, Alemin
Zubieta was thrown in jail, slandered by the
government-controlled press and eventu-
ally forced into exile with his family in Puerto
Rico. Despite the sacrifices that he and his

colleagues were forced to make, however, he
says that some good came out of the crisis.
"It taught us survival," he points out.
In recognition of Aleman Zubieta's out-
standing leadership and long-time support of
CAPAC and his lifetime career achievements,
he was presented the-William Ross Medal,
CAPAC's most prestigious award, in 1992.
Another big honor came last year when he
was appointed by the Commission Board of
Directors to head a panel of professional Pana-
manian engineers responsible for auditing the
Canal infrastructure study carried out by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The six mem-
bers of the panel were volunteers who received
no compensation for their work. Suggestions
made by the panel led to the expansion of the
study to include more detail and cover addi-
tional areas, such as the telecommunications
and management-information systems.
Alemdn Zubieta, who had no idea that he
would be subsequently nominated as Com-
mission administrator when he assumed lead-
ership of the engineering panel, points out
that itprovided him with valuable training for
his new post. "This has been a most reward-
ing experience that has helped me to under-
stand the Canal much better," he says.
Talking to employees at various Canal
work sites has also been very helpful, he
says, adding that he plans to continue mak-

ing field visits as administrator. "Whatever
challenges the organization is facing, at the
end of the day, people must remain the most
important concern," he states.
The major challenges that Aleman Zubieta
foresees during his term as administrator in-
clude maintaining day-to-day operations, pro-
viding world-class service to customers and
ensuring a smooth transition from U.S. to
Panamanian stewardship. He says he is count-
ing on the continued commitment of employ-
ees at all levels of the Canal organization to
support him in meeting these challenges.
With respect to his predecessor, Alemin
Zubieta says, "I have always admired Mr.
Guardia as a professional, as a gentleman
and as a person." He expresses gratitude to
both Guardia and Joseph W. Cornelison, the
deputy administrator, for their support in
helping him prepare for his new role, noting
that Guardia's wife, Teresa, has also been
advising his wife, Ana Matilde Arias de
Alemdn, on matters that may affect the fam-
ily. The other members of the Alemdn family
include Alberto Antonio, 16; Ana Isabel, 13;
and Rafael Ernesto, 8 months.
Besides spending time with his family,
AlemAn Zubieta's passions include reading,
playing golf and enjoying water sports like
fishing and boating, particularly around
Taboga, where the family owns a home.

I hope that I instead have been regarded as
the Canal administrator, concerned with the
interests of our two countries and of Canal
users for the overall good of the waterway
and our customers."
AlthoughleavingtheCommission, Guardia
has no plans to retire. He looks forward to
being active again in some former endeavors,
although he expects that his professional in-
volvement will now be in planning and devel-
opment rather than construction. "I am also
going to have a little more time for the things
I've always wanted to do travel, for in-
stance," he says. Noting that members of his
family have made sacrifices to support his
work as administrator, he adds thathe will also
be spending more time with them, including
his wife, Teresa; children, Teresita, GilbertoJr.
and Juan; and seven grandchildren.
He has also promised to be available at
any time his successor may wish to seek his
advice. "I have known him a long time," he
says of Aleman Zubieta, "and we have a
good relationship." In fact, since the nomi-
nation of Aleman Zubieta was announced,
the two men have been meeting so that
Guardia can share his expertise, provide ad-
vice and brief Aleman Zubieta on the impor-
tant issues he will be facing.
Guardia's overall outlook for the future of
the Canal is optimistic. "I see the waterway
playing an increasingly important role in
Panama's development as a source of oppor-
tunity for a number of business activities," he
says. "I think, however, that we will need to
use good sense if this is to continue. We
cannot allow unsuitable activities to inter-
fere with its efficient operation."
Admitting that turning over his enor-
mous responsibilities as Commission admin-
istrator will leave an "empty space" in his life,
Guardia says, "The Canal has unquestion-
ably left a strong imprint upon me." He will
also miss those he has met through his work
here. "I established many new friendships
with people I have come to respect and ad-
mire," he says. "They will always constitute
an important part of my memories of this
period in my life."

Update on intensified
maintenance program

The intensified maintenance and repair
program atthe Panama Canal locks continued
on July 29 and 30 and August 6 and 7 at Gatun.
Workers from the Locks and Dredging
divisions, withthe help of the floating crane
Hercules, removed mitergate 16 from a middle-
level position in the west lane and sent it to the
Industrial Division for replacement of its upper-
pintle bushing. Miter gate 20 was temporarily
installed in the vacated slot until the refur-
bished gate was returned earlier this week.
Locks personnel took advantage of the
required lane outages to make repairs to the
locomotive conductor-slot system and to.in-
spect miter gate bull wheels, the giant gears
that help open and close the lock gates.

Page 3

~R~m~~n~

e hT Panama Canal Spill y

Iag -T -I. I .--j

Friday, August 9, 1996

"Ancon" passenger makes second transit

Reliving history Photo by Armando De Gracia
Peggy Janson examines a historical photo of the "SS Ancon" making its inaugural voyage
through the Panama Canal on August 15, 1914. Janson and her parents were among those
invited aboard for the transit.

1
I i
.,"

~f~ B

chief of the Division of Posts and then chief
of the Civil Affairs Division. He also served
as a New York Times correspondent for Cen-
tral and South America and was widely known
for his work. Calhoun met Clelia Crespi, a
teacher, after her arrival in Panama in 1911,
and they married a few years later. Janson
was the first of five children.
Although Janson's parents did not leave
her any souvenirs of the inaugural transit,
she has had the Canal itself as a reminder,
observing it on journeys across the Isthmus
to visit family friends in Colon.
Janson was never employed by the Canal
agency, but did follow in her father's other
footsteps by working as a journalist for El
Panama Amdrica. She stays active today
with community and church work.

Employees take on ocean-to-ocean safari TTAS

By Tanya de la Guardia
Many adventurers have been lured by the
small size of the Isthmus of Panama to attempt
a crossing from ocean to ocean. Those who
try this by routes other than the Panama
Canal or the Transisthmian Highway need to
have an in-depth knowledge of the terrain, be
in good physical condition and possess the
inner drive to persevere, as there are many
obstacles along the way, some of which are
associated with the heavy rains that fall here.
A few weeks ago, four adventure-loving
Panama Canal Commission employees
proved that they have what it takes to meet
the challenge. Acting Assistant Rates Branch
Chief John Wolff began planning the trip
about 1V2 years ago with his sons, Canal
Services Division student assistant Chris
Wolff and Electrical Division student assis-
tant Albert Bodden, and they convinced
Assistant General Counsel Jay Sieleman to
join them. The plan was to cross from Monte
Oscuro on the Pacific Ocean to the mouth of
Rio Indio on the Atlantic by foot, bicycle and
cayuco.
The trip began at 7:30 a.m. June 29 at
Monte Oscuro, where they collected shells
from the beach to throw into the Atlantic
Ocean at the journey's end. After biking 14
miles through Cermeifo, Capira and Lidice,
they dismounted a few miles before Aguacate
to continue their journey by foot. They
reached Cacao at approximately 4 p.m., hav-
ing covered a total of 25 miles that day. They
then returned home, with plans to continue
their trip over the Fourth of July weekend.

On July 4, the group returned to Cacao
armed with maps, camping supplies, a camera
and two dogs, Herbie and Jack. They began
walking along a muddy trail until they came
across a resident of the area who went by the
name "Benito." He offered to be their guide
and let them load their backpacks on his
horse. That day, they hiked past Ciri Grande
and Ciricito and then took a shortcut that
Benito showed them. Showers slowed their
progress, but Sieleman had no complaint.
"We were walking and sweating," he recalls.
"The rain helped us to cool off."
When Benito told them that he was al-
ready way past his home and could go no
further, the group decided to camp on some
land belonging to people he knew. Benito
asked the owners to take over as guides the
next day and to supply horses for carrying
the supplies. He even made arrangements for
them to stay in thatched-roof huts. "It rained
all night long," Wolff says. "We were able to
keep dry by sleeping in the bohios."
The next day, they began hiking toward
Santa Rosa. By noon, they had started to run
low on water. It was hot, and they were
thirsty, so Chris and Bodden stayed behind
pumping water into a filter, while the rest of
the group advanced. "There was a point at
which we began leaving things behind to
enable the others to follow," says Wolff. The
only trouble was that Chris didn't recognize
the signs at first. On seeing at a distance a hat
left behind by his father, he mistook it for
trash. "I remember wondering how someone
could litter way out here," he says.

End of the road
From left, Chris Wolff, Jay Sieleman, Albert Bodden and John Wolff gather at the entrance
to Gatun Locks with their canine escorts for a group photo after hiking, biking and
traveling by cayuco across the Isthmus of Panama.

When they all finally arrived at the next
town, the first item on the agenda was to buy
some soft drinks. "I never tasted anything as
good as that hot Pepsi," recalls Bodden.
To continue into Tres Hermanas, they
had to cross a river, but it appeared too swift
for the dogs and horses. One of the horses,
however, decided all on its own to take the
plunge and began running through the river,
with Chris in pursuit. "While I was still
crossing, a native kid on a old horse grabbed
our horse at the other side of the river," Chris
says. Wolff then led the less-adventurous
horse across the river, while the two dogs
were taken by the others to a nearby foot-
bridge for the crossing.
The adventurers had originally planned
to sleep that night at Tres Hermanas; how-
ever, a man they met told them that their next
stop, Los Uveros, was only ten minutes away,
so they continued walking for what turned
out to be two hours.
"When we arrived at Los Uveros, our
spirits were very high and we were singing
loudly," says Wolff. It was around 4:30 p.m.,
and it was raining, so most people were inside
their houses. Luckily for the travelers, how-
ever, two local schoolteachers, who they
now know as "Nelson," and "Xiomara" saw
them come in. They asked for Nelson's help
in finding someone to take them by cayuco
to the mouth of Rio Indio, but the cayuco
owner said they would have to wait until the
next day. Nelson and Xiomara offered them
lodging at the schoolroom and dinner.
They woke up early the next morning and,
after eating breakfast offered by the teach-
ers, got ready for their 3V2-hour cayuco trip
down the Rio Indio. They describe the jour-
ney through the rainforest as extremely beau-

tiful, saying they saw gigantic trees along the
riverbank. When they arrived at the Atlantic,
they were exhausted but exhilarated.
Rather than ending their adventure after
throwing their shells from Monte Oscuro
into the sea, they caught a bus to Gatun
Locks; however, they felt so hungry that
they asked the driver to let them off at the
Tarpon Club. After trying to make them-
selves presentable in the cleanest clothes
they could find, they convinced the restau-
rant employees to let them in to eat. From
there, they walked to Gatun Locks and waited
for family members to pick them up.
Each one of them has his own memories
of the adventure. "Mud, mud, mud," is how
Sieleman describes his, adding on a more
serious note, "It was great to be out there in
the middle of nowhere just you and the
jungle."
Bodden remembers coming out at Los
Uveros. "They probably thought we were
crazy gringos making lots of noise." Chris
says he and his father had gone to Tres
Hermanas the year before in a four-wheel
drive vehicle, so being there again was all the
more enjoyable. His father summarizes the
experience this way, "It was an immense
feeling of freedom. I can't even express how
I felt. In the end, you forget all about civili-
zation and it's just a question of how to get
out of the bush."
Like true adventurers, they are already
looking forward to new challenges. Sieleman
says he would like to participate in another
ocean-to-ocean crossing, the cayuco race,
next year. Wolff, Chris and Bodden have set
their sights on South America and are plan-
ning to explore the Amazon River, Machu
Picchu, Manaus and Angel Falls.

DP2A A

Transisthmian trail
This illustration by Jessica Zeballos shows the route taken by the transisthmian travelers.

By Yira A. Flores
In April, Peggy Janson made her second
transit through the Panama Canal, accompa-
nying a grandson aboard the Daiquiri, a
launch that takes tourists through the water-
way. Her first was made 82 years ago when
she was 6 weeks old. Although she has no
recollection of the first experience, it is well-
documented in the history books as it marked
the opening of the Canal to world commerce.
Like a number of other U.S. government
employees, Janson's parents were invited
aboard the SS Ancon for its historic voyage
to inaugurate the Canal on August 15, 1914,
and they took their infant daughter along.
Janson's father, Crede H. Calhoun, had
arrived on the Isthmus in 1908 and got a job
with the postal system, eventually becoming

r

Friday, August 9, 1996

The Panama Canal Spillway

Historical account paints picturesque scenes of life in construction towns

This is the conclusion of the
historical series about the villages
that were covered by Gatun Lake.
The series has been taken from the
CanalRecord ofDecember6, 1911.

PartS
Near Bohio are the hamlets of
Penas Blancas and Buena Vista,
both on the river and each merely a
collection of huts of various de-
scriptions.
Frijoles is the next railway sta-
tion, a village of 784 inhabitants in
1908, of about a thousand when it
became acenter for relocation work
on the Panama railroad, now being
rapidly deserted. Here, for many
years, an old Frenchman ran a dis-
tilleryin which hemade rumof such
good quality that he boasted that it
was sold in Colon to rectifiers who
made it into "genuine French co-
gnac."
One of the familiar sights of this
hamlet is the village washing place
- a pool near the railway tracks,
formed by the swirling of the water
in the Frijolita River at apoint where
it is turned at right angles to its
previous course by the interposi-
tion of a bank of clay and rock. The
method of washing clothes among
the natives and West Indians can
be observed here. This also is lo-
cally known as the place where one
may buy bananas of peculiarly de-
licious flavor.
Frijoles is mentioned in F.N. Otis'
guide book published in 1862, but
the next village, Tabernilla, is not. It
was one of the centers of the French
work, and there was a small field
repair shop at this point, with a few
buildings that served as quarters
for the working force.
During the American occupa-
tion it became a village of over two
thousand inhabitants (2,079 in 1908),
because here is situated the largest
dumping ground on the canal work.
The location was chosen in 1906
because it is on the main line of the
railroad and outside the canal prism
and it afforded a plot of ground two
miles long and almost as wide for
wasting of spoil. In all, about six-
teen million cubic yards of material
were wasted here, all of which will
be below the level of the lake.

The dump was abandoned at
the close of 1910, and immediately
the village population decreased,
the people remaining there being
largely employees with families who
could not procure quarters else-
where. These are now being moved
because the demolition of the place
is under way.
Between Tabernilla and San
Pablo, the railroad crosses the
Chagres River at Barbacoas. The
original bridge was built of wood,
but, early in the history of the rail-
road, it was replaced by a bridge of
six wroughtiron through plate girder
spans ranging from 101 to 109 feet
in length, supported upon seven
masonry piers.
This bridge is mentioned by Otis
in 1862 and is said to have been one
of the first of its type ever con-
structed. It was not built, however,
to carry such heavy rolling stock as

The Chagres River
bridge at Barbacoas
was said to be one of
the first of its type.

that placed on the road by the
Americans, and so the three chan-
nel spans were replaced in 1908 by
heavier girders, while the floor sys-
tem of the three remaining spans of
the old bridge was reinforced.
San Pablo was originally a plan-
tation worked by Catholic priests.
It was a railroad station in 1862, was
a laborer's camp in the French days
and, during the American occupa-
tion, has been a small canal village.
It also is being demolished, and the
last excavation in the lake region is
now in progress there.
Across the Chagres River from
San Pablo is Caimito. It was a canal
labor camp in the French time and
also under the Americans, until the
work at that point was finished. Of
this class, also, is Mamei, likewise a
railroad station in 1862 and little
more than that today, although it
was the location of several quarters
for canal workers a few years ago.
Gorgona bears the name given
by Spanish conquistador Francisco
Pizarro to an island off the coast of

Frijoles
Knownforsuch things as rum and bananas, the colorful village ofFrijoles had also been a centerfor relocation

work on the Panama Railroad.

Colombia near Buenaventura, be-
cause he found around it such
treacherous currents. Itmay be that
this name was adopted arbitrarily,
or that the Chagres River travelers
found in the river at this place some
eddies that reminded them of the
currents at Gorgona Island.
Of this place Otis says, "The
native town of Gorgona was noted
in the earlier days of the river travel
as the place where the wet and
jaded traveler was accustomed to
worry out the night on a rawhide,
exposed to the insects and the rain,
and in the morning if he was fortu-
nate regale himself on jerked beef
and plantains." In the French time,
large shops were situated here at
the point where the American shops
now are, known as Bas Matachin.
Gorgona should not be classed
with Gatun and Bohio as a purely
jungle hamlet because it appears to
have been a settlement of some size
long before the railroad was built. It
was one of the places at which river
travelers stopped for the night, and
all about it were cultivated farms.
At the time of the first Canal Zone
census in 1908, its inhabitants num-
bered 2,750. The population has
increased owing to the expansion
of work in the shops.
The site of the shops and the
lower parts of the village will be
covered by the water of Gatun Lake,
and, therefore, the shops will be
moved in about a year to the site
reserved for the permanent marine
shops at Balboa.

Tabernilla
Before it was covered by the waters of Gatun Lake, the village of Tabernilla contained the largest dumping
ground for spoil material along the Panama Canal construction route.

Gorgona
The lake village of Gorgona, either by design or coincidence, bore the
same name that Franciso Pizarro gave to an island off the coast of
Colombia after experiencing its treacherous currents.

Canal Record announces fate of lake trees

The historical series about the villages that were covered when
Gatun Lake was flooded may have caused some readers to wonder
what happened to the trees in the area. This article, reprinted from
the April 24, 1912, Canal Record provides some enlightenment.
Elsewhere in this issue of The Canal Record will be found an
advertisement asking forbids for the privilege of cutting timber in the
area within the Canal Zone that will be covered by Gatun Lake. The
conditions governing the proposed contract are as follows:
(1) The privilege consists of a right to cut timber within the defined area
until such time as the timber may be required by the Government, in which event
the privilege would cease as of date of due notification to that effect to the
contractor.
(2) The privilege would under no circumstance extend beyond January 1, 1915.
(3) Bidders will submit bid in one lump sum for the privilege.
(4) Payment of the full amount of bid will be due and payable within thirty
days from notification by the Chief Quartermaster that bid has been accepted.
(5) Upon payment of full amount of bid the successful bidder may proceed
at once to cut and remove timber within the area designated and may continue
to cut and remove same until notified by the Government that the privilege
is recalled, or until the first day of January, 1915.
(6) The successful bidder will be required to remove all timber cut by him
and to make disposition by burning or otherwise of all brush and limbs resulting
from such cutting.
It is not known how much desirable timber there may be in the area
to be flooded within the Canal Zone. It is probable there is only a small
amount of hard woods, because the land along the Chagres River has
been occupied to some extent for three hundred and fifty years, and
most of the original wood has been cut, while much of the area has
been burned over many times. So little desirable timber was found
along the route of the Panama railroad at the time of its construction,
1850-55, that most of the ties were brought from Colombia. During the
dry season of 1910 about 842 acres of land in the ship channel through
the lake were cleared by contract, and in this area there were found
only a few hardwood sticks and a small number of espeve trees, a
wood with little grain, from which 17 native canoes were made. The
contractor obtained about 4,000 bags of charcoal at 40 pounds to the
bag, and this was the most valuable by-product of his work. Among
the cabinet woods found in the lake region, a few sticks here and there,
are cocobolo, guayacan, Panama mahogany, Spanish cedar, and
several light colored woods that are very hard and take a high polish.
Many of these woods are too heavy to float.

Chamberorchestra concert
Panama's National Association of Con-
certs has announced a performance by the
20-member Cappela Istropolitana chamber
orchestra at 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 28,
at Atlapa Convention Center's La Huaca
Theater. Tickets may be obtained from the
Argosy or Allegro stores or from the associa-
tion (225-4951).

Spanish classes
Registration for Spanish classes is open
at the Panamanian-U.S. Cultural Center
(PanUsa) in Balboa from4 to 7 p.m. on Friday,
August 16, and Monday, August 19, and
from 10 a.m. to2 p.m. on Saturday, August 17.
Intensive classes for adults will meet on
Monday through Thursday from August 26
to September 19, with children's classes
scheduled for Saturday from August 24
through September 28.

Canal anniversary activities planned
Activities to commemorate the 82nd anni-
versary of the Panama Canal are scheduled
throughout next week. The Roosevelt Medal
Descendants will hold a memorial service in
Gaillard Cut on August 16 to honor the U.S.
construction era workers who were recog-
nized with the Roosevelt Medal. Information
is available from Marc Quinn at 264-8957.
A separate memorial service in Gaillard
Cut will be held August 15 by the Society of
Friends of the Afro-Antillean Museum of
Panama to recognize the contributions of
West Indian construction workers. A num-
ber of other activities are planned by the
society as part of its weeklong anniversary
celebration. Contact Carlos King at 285-6905
for details.

Government surplus sale
The Defense Reutilization and Marketing
Office will hold a sealed-bid sale on August
21 and22 atBuilding745, Corozal. Interested
parties may inspect and bid upon the mer-
chandise between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the
days of the sale.

Excess Disposal Unit sale
The Panama Canal Commission Excess
Disposal Unit invites the public to participate
in a sealed-bid sale of miscellaneous used
articles at 1 p.m. August 13 at Building 46,
Diablo. The sale items may be inspected
today, August 9, between 7 and 10:45 a.m.
and between 11:30a.m. and 3p.m. and on the
sale date between 7 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. For
furtherinformation, call 272-7683 or272-3062.

College registration
Registration for the fall semesteratPanama
Canal College will beheld from9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and 2:30 to 5 p.m. on August 19 and 20, with
classes scheduled to begin August 21. Cop-
ies of the class schedule are available in the
admissions and records office at the campus
in La Boca. Placement tests for the first six
levels of English as a second language are
scheduled for 1 p.m. August 14 and 16 and 6
p.m. August 15 in Room 204. Call 272-3107 or
272-3304 for more information.

DODDS registration reminder
The Department of Defense Dependents
Schools reminds parents of the requirement
to register any new students in the school
system as soon as possible. Documents that
should be presented during registration in-
clude employment status records, identifica-
tion cards, immunization records, report cards
or transcripts from previous schools and
birth certificates or passports. Children must
be 5 years old by October 31 to be registered
for kindergarten and 6 years old by that date
for first grade.
Parents with questions may direct them to
the appropriate school as follows: Balboa
High School (272-7896), Curundu Middle
School (286-6263), BalboaElementary School
(272-7696), Curundu Elementary School (287-
6565), Fort Clayton Elementary School (287-
6565), Fort Kobbe Elementary School (284-
3106) or Howard Elementary School (284-
3919).

Placement tests continue to be offered to Panama Canal Commission employees who are
interested in attending the Spanish as a second language classes that will be offered by the
Employee and Management Development Branch. The classes are designed for those whose
native language is English.
The test will be administered at 8 a.m. on August 23 at the Balboa and Gatun training
centers, on August 30 in Balboa and on September 6 in both Balboa and Gatun. Call Judy
Rios or Gladys Arias at 272-4141 to schedule the test at one of these times.

Official personnel folders to be

available to Atlantic employees

As an added service to Northern District personnel, the Panama Canal Commission will
make official personnel folders available on the Atlantic side for employees who wish to
review their records.
Employees should request their files through their administrative officers. The files will
be released to administrative officers through the Commission mail system within 24 hours
of when the respective requests are received in Ancon. To ensure the availability of files for
document filing and appraisal-board reviews, the employee must examine the file within 24
hours of notification that it is available.
Atlantic-side employees are reminded that they do not need to travel to the Pacific side
to register births, marriages, divorces or deaths, as this can be accomplished by sending a
completed Form 195, Personnel Information Record, and a copy of the appropriate certificate
to the Personnel Records Administrative Branch (PROR) through the Commission mail
system. Form 195 is available from administrative officers.
Employees should bear in mind that it is their responsibility to ensure that their files are
up to date at all times, as promotion opportunities may hinge on the accuracy and
completeness of information in the files. Documents such as transcripts of credits, copies
of licenses or statements of experience acquired in an outside employment or activity should
be submitted to the Personnel Records Administrative Branch.

New trades added to open-continuous application list

The Personnel Operations Division has
expanded the list of crafts for which it will be
continuously accepting applications. Posi-
tions on the list now include crane operator,
MG-10/11; electrician, MG-10; machinist,
MG-10; maintenance mechanic (pipefitting,
shipfitting and welding), MG-10; maintenance
mechanic (painting, carpentry and cement
work), MG-9; pipefitter, MG-10; plumber, MG-
9; rigger, MG-10; and welder, MG-10.
Any current or former employee of a U. S.

federal government agency who holds or has
held a permanent position at the same grade
for which the application is submitted may
file a Standard Form 171, Application for
Federal Employment, and copy of his or her
latest Standard Form 50, Notification of Per-
sonnel Action, with the Employment and
Placement Branch (Building 366, Ancon). To
be eligible for employment by the Panama
Canal Commission, applicants will be required
to pass craft tests in their pertinent trades.

Position vacancy list
Applicants must have career or career-conditional status. To apply, submit Form 443, Application for Transfer, by next Friday
to the Employment and Placement Branch (Building 366, Ancon).
Persons selected for appointment to a permanent position or a testing-designated position will be tested for illegal drug use prior
to appointment or permanent position change. I -:-". "
For certain poinposiions in one-grade interval series where there is no position in the normal line of promotion, in-service employees
qualify if they possess at least one year of specialized experience at the second-lower level of the position.
For in-service actions other than promotions, modified qualifications will be used whenever an applicant's background includes
closely related experience providing the skills necessary for successful performance.
Proof that applicant meets special requirements (such as swimming ability or possession of civil driver's license) must be filed in
the Official Personnel Folder or added to Form 443.
Salaries reflect the minimum and maximum hourly rates of pay for the grades of the advertised positions, except that the positions
in the Washington Office reflect annual pay. Those selected will be placed in the appropriate grade and step in accordance with
regulations.
Qualifications standards may be reviewed at the Panama Canal Commission Technical Resources Center. (Building 38, Balboa).
Further information may be obtained from the Employment and Placement Branch (272-3583).

Everyone feels down sometimes, but if a
gloomy mood lasts too long, it may be more
than just "the blues." Left alone, a de-
pressed person may become increasingly
withdrawn, distracted and unable to work.
The feeling may be so overwhelming that
one can't reach out for help. Depression is

a serious illness that may lead to suicide, but
caring intervention can be the first step
toward recovery.
Depression is enough of a problem with-
out believing the myths that keep people
down and alone orprevent them from seeking
treatment. If you are telling yourself that
you're "just tired," that you should be able to
deal with aproblemby yourself or that it's not

Safety specialist Carlos E. Saldafia's
"safety topic of the month" article for July
targets Panama Canal Commission employ-
ees who receive, store or dispatch materi-
als. Explaining that lifting activities are
often associated with these responsibili-
ties, he noted the importance of taking pre-
cautions to avoid injuries. "The most preva-
lent type of injury when moving materials
has been, and continues to be, back inju-
ries," he says, offering these tips on how to
prevent them:
Bend your knees. This helps to keep
your spine straight and to prevent you from
stooping.
Determine the weight before lifting.
Move the load slightly before lifting it to see
whether you will be able to carry it safely. If
it is too heavy, use the appropriate equip-
ment or find someone to help you.
Maintain a good grip. Use your whole
hand, rather than just your fingers, as this
prevents the load from slipping and subject-
ing your back to excess weight.
Keep the load close to yourbody. Carry-

GILBERTO GUARDIA F.
Administrator, Panama Canal Commission

FRANKLIN D. CASTRELLON
Associate Director

ing it further away from you puts more
pressure on the spine.
Keep your spine aligned. This same
technique is used by weightlifters prior to a
lift and is done by keeping the ears, shoulders
and hips in line. Avoid stretching your spine.
Lift with your legs. Let them, rather than
your back, perform the work of moving the
load upward.
Release the load properly. When lower-
ing the load, bend your knees and slip it
toward the floor or onto a platform.
Another tip from Saldafia cautions em-
ployees against expecting too much from
back belts. The belts do not make you stron-
ger, help you lift heavier loads or prevent
back strain from overexertion, he points out.
"The only thing a back belt will do for you
(and only when it is worn properly) is help
you to keep your back straight when lifting,"
he states. "It does this by making it difficult
to bend your back." Saldafia wraps up by
saying, "The most important aspect of risk-
free lifting is to have the proper knowledge
and attitude about personal safety."

JENNIFER JONES
Editor
The Panama Canal Spillway is an official biweekly publication of the Panama Canal Commission. Articles may be reprinted without further
permission by crediting the source. All material should be submitted by 11:45 a.m. Thursday of the week before publication or by I1:45 a.m.
Wednesday if there is a holiday during the week of publication. Subscriptions for 52 issues are $6 by regular mail, $4 by regular mail for
students and $19 by airmail. Checks or money orders should be payable to the Panama Canal Commission. Call 272-3202 for further
information or write the Office of Public Affairs, Panama Canal Commission, Unit 2300, APO AA 34011-2300 or Balboa Heights, Panama.

worth trying to solve a problem because
nothing will help, then you may be denying
depression. Trying to cover up depression
or pretending to feel fine does not help. The
longer depression lasts, the harder it is to
recover.
A depressed person often has muddled
thoughts and a hard time making decisions.
The following questions have been designed
to help identify whether you or someone you
care about may be depressed and in need of
professional help. Asking a troubled person
to answer a few of these questions can open
the door to communication and break through
the feeling of isolation. This test is not a
substitute for a professional evaluation, but
it is a powerful first step in assessing depres-
sion.
1. Do you usually feel down or discour-
aged and believe that life won't get any better
in the future?
2. Have you lost your appetite or are you
overeating?
3. Do you have trouble sleeping or do you
wake up a few hours earlier than usual?
4. Do you feel anxious or worried without
any obvious reason?
5. Do you have less interest in things that
used to make you happy (such as hobbies,
work or pet projects)?
6. Do you feel annoyed or irritable with
people or have you lost interest in your family
or friends?
7. Do you have less interest in sex than
you used to?
8. Are you tired and lethargic or do you
have trouble motivating yourself to get things
done?
9. Do you feel like a failure, guilty foryour
mistakes or critical of your shortcomings?
10. Is it hard to think clearly, concentrate
or make decisions?
11. Are you overly worried about minor
aches and pains?
12. Do you often think about death or
suicide?

Anyone answering "yes"tothe last ques-
tion should seek professional help immedi-
ately. Answering just a few of the other
questions in this manner could indicate that
you or the person concerned may simply be
experiencing the normal ups and downs of
life. However, the more affirmative answers
there were, the greater the likelihood that
depression is present.
Lifting the cloud of depression is a step-
by-step process. Learning self-care skills
helps many people feel better and more in
control and is sometimes all that is needed.
For others, a professional may recommend a
combination of therapy, medication and other
recovery assistance. Fortunately, depres-
sion is one of the most treatable mood disor-
ders once a treatment plan has begun.
Almost everyone who faces depression
does recover. Feeling energetic and produc-
tive, being intimately involved with other
people, enjoying life and all it has to offer -
these are things we all should anticipate.
That's not to say it will never rain again;
it will. But, step by step, day by day, people
can overcome depression, learn to cope with
the everyday showers and enjoy the sun-
shine again.

Blasting scheduled

at Industrial Division

Blasting operations on miter gate
bearing plates will be conducted by
the Panama Canal Commission at
the Industrial Division's tug and miter
repairfacility in Mount Hope between
7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on August 17 and,
if necessary, on August 18 as well.
Those with business to conduct in the
area should schedule their visits at
other times.

Support systems help for mild cases of job burnout;
seek professional help to deal with severe instances

The following is based on an article by
Panama Canal Commission Employee Coun-
seling Coordinator Denia Pimentel.
Most of the experts who have attempted
to define burnout agree that its two central
features are physical and mental exhaustion
and a loss of motivation to work. Symptoms
that signal physical and mental exhaustion
include backaches, gastrointestinal prob-
lems, irritability and insomnia, while those
associated with motivational loss include
lack of interest, depersonalization or with-
drawal.
Job burnout can occur when the demand
for physical and mental energy exceeds the
supply. Over time, this excess demand can
drain the individual's reserves.
Factors influencing burnout may include
job pressures or expectations; inadequate
time, knowledge or tools to accomplish what
needs to be done; the duration of the situa-
tion; and the extent to which the individual
concerned cares about the situation. Caring
is usually a positive element that keeps us
involved and interested in our work, but
caring too much can drain a person's emo-
tional energy.
Some types ofjobs, especially those that
involve woiking closely with others, such as
counseling, health care, customer service
and sales, have a greater tendency to contrib-
ute to job burnout. That's because people in
these positions tend to be "care givers" who
are sensitive to the needs of others.

Signs of burnout can include negative
feelings about yourself or the employees you
work with, the impression that you can no
longer make worthwhile contributions to
those around you, an attitude that you'll just
have to endure an unpleasant situation or
apathy about what happens at work. Other
warning signs include inappropriately leav-
ing or threatening to leave your job, in-
creased use of alcohol or drugs, more serious
problems at home, sarcasm or increased irri-
tability, sensitivity or fussiness. Ignoring
these warning signs constitutes a further
indication of trouble.
The severity of burnout depends on the
intensity of these signs and the frequency
with which they occur. Good support sys-
tems can be very helpful in mild cases of
burnout or to prevent them from occurring in
the first place. More severe cases call for
professional help, and the sooner you get it,
the better.

Page 7

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Dry bulk carriers
Accounting for 3,753 transits and $162.2 million in tolls last fiscal year, this is the most common type of ship that transits the Panama Canal.
A dry-bulk carrier generally has a single weather deck vessel and is designed for transporting a variety of commodities such as grains, iron
ore, coal or sugar. It can often be distinguished by several cranes on deck, which are used to handle cargo, and typically has several covered
hatches, which are openings on deck that give access to the holds inside. Gearless bulk carriers are generally larger vessels with no shipboard
cranes or cargo-handling equipment.

Refrigerated cargo vessels
Known as "reefers," these are the second most common ships found in Canal w,
Because they are used to transport eitherfrozen or chilled cargo, such as seaso
generally painted in light colors. New reefer vessels may also have the capab

By Adrianne Holmes
As the Panama Canal celebrates its 82nd anniversary, it is fi
reason for the waterway's existence. The photos on this page
classification is not comprehensive and many specific vessels do
this information will encourage novice ship watchers to try theii
waterway from day to day.

Passenger ships
Accounting for 311 transits and $15.2 million in tolls last year, these glamou.
luxurious class of ships using the Canal. Standard features include lifeboats a
where piers are not available. They also typically have many decks running th

Vehicle carriers
These enormous rectangular-shaped vessels are usually easy to spot. Last fiscal year, they accounted for 624 transits and $50.2 million in tolls.
They are enclosed to protect the automobiles within from the damaging effects of the weather and salty seawater. Because automobiles are a
relatively light cargo that does not add much to vessel draft, these ships can be built to ride very high above the water, giving them their typically
tall appearance.

'ers, accounting for 2,580 transits and $38.1 million in tolls lastfiscal year.
ilfresh fruits and vegetables or meats, reefers need to be kept cool and are
ity to carry a number of refrigerated containers above deck.

ing to focus attention on vessel transits, as these are the very
llustrate the major ship types seen at the Canal. While the
lot fit neatly into one of these general categories, we hope that
;kills at categorizing the vessels they see moving through the

Container ships
Ships designed exclusively for containerized cargo made 1,311 transits and generated $71.1 million in tolls lastfiscal year. These vessels are distinguishable
by their generally tall superstructure and, when laden, by the stacks of containers stowed on deck. They are among the longest and largest vessels that utilize
the Canal.